At 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, Mayor Robert Quaiff declared a State of Emergency due to localized flooding and the continued rising water levels of the Bay of Quinte and Lake Ontario. This State of Emergency is expected to remain in effect as long as there is a flood threat.

At the Emergency Management Control Group meeting this morning the Mayor stated: “The immediate concern is the safety of people whose homes are being impacted by the rising Lake levels.”

The County is currently assessing the conditions in the localized flood zones. Working with Quinte Conservation, there will be aerial photos taken to identify current water levels along the shoreline of Prince Edward County to confirm the hardest hit areas. In addition, the Mayor has arranged for a drone from the RCMP in Ottawa to provide additional assessment of the location of potentially impacted properties.

Municipal staff and the County Fire Department staff will also be going out to at-risk areas to view these properties and collect information. The staff will carry identification. They will not be requesting entry to any homes or buildings.

The use of volunteers is being assessed should this need arise. In the interim the Mayor advises that: “Affected residents should save any receipts and document their time in protecting their personal homes as they may be eligible to apply for financial assistance through the Province”.

The County has updated its website to include a Flood Watch page to provide updated information and resources available to residents. Please visit www.thecounty.ca/floodwatch to access this information.

For more information about rising water levels please contact the Quinte Conservation Authority at 613.968.3434 or info@quinteconservation.ca

For more information or to report flooding of your home, contact the County of Prince Edward at 613.476.2148 ext. 1023 or info@pecounty.on.ca

May 11 – Quinte news.com – Sandbagging equipment and personnel have been deployed to help residents in the north-western portion of Prince Edward County, the hardest hit by localized flooding and rising water levels.

On Wednesday, an RCMP drone took to the skies along with firefighters going door-to-door to assess damage as the County remains under a state of emergency.

On Thursday, Mayor Robert Quaiff said the worst hit areas are in Weller’s Bay, Consecon, Rossmore and Wellington. Read more…